Great at Work - by Morten T Hansen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Wall Street Journal bestseller--a Financial Times Business Book of the Month and named by The Washington Post as "One of the 11 Leadership Books to Read in 2018"--is "a refreshingly data-based, clearheaded guide" (Publishers Weekly) to individual performance, based on a groundbreaking study.

Why do some people perform better at work than others? This deceptively simple question continues to confound professionals in all sectors of the workforce. Now, after a unique, five-year study of more than 5,000 managers and employees, Morten Hansen reveals the answers in his "Seven Work Smarter Practices" that can be applied by anyone looking to maximize their time and performance.

Each of Hansen's seven practices is highlighted by inspiring stories from individuals in his comprehensive study. You'll meet a high school principal who engineered a dramatic turnaround of his failing high school; a rural Indian farmer determined to establish a better way of life for women in his village; and a sushi chef, whose simple preparation has led to his unassuming restaurant being awarded the maximum of three Michelin stars. Hansen also explains how the way Alfred Hitchcock filmed Psycho and the 1911 race to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole both illustrate the use of his seven practices.

Each chapter "is intended to inspire people to be better workers...and improve their own work performance" (Booklist) with questions and key insights to allow you to assess your own performance and figure out your work strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Once you understand your individual style, there are mini-quizzes, questionnaires, and clear tips to assist you focus on a strategy to become a more productive worker. Extensive, accessible, and friendly, Great at Work will help us "reengineer our work lives, reduce burnout, and improve performance and job satisfaction" (Psychology Today).

Review Quotes

"Great at Work is intended to inspire people to be better workers. Written by a management professor at the University of California, Berkeley, this book differs from other popular management volumes in that it is based on a significant research project that identified the key factors that make better workers....As a research-based study on becoming a better worker, this volume will help readers improve their own work performance."--Booklist

"A refreshingly data-based, clearheaded guide..."--Publishers Weekly

"Adds significantly to our understanding of job performance-and satisfaction-in an increasingly competitive workplace....[Hansen's] findings, bolstered as they are by a massive and statistically rigorous study that included different kinds of for-profit companies, should command the attention of those of us who want to reengineer our work lives, reduce burnout, improve performance and job satisfaction."--Psychology Today

"Finally, a method and evidence to uncover what it takes to multiply our effectiveness at work. Morten Hansen's pathbreaking new book is a rare, research-driven "seven habits" for the 21th century. A must read for anyone working to improve themselves or helping others to do so."--Herminia Ibarra, Professor, London Business School and author of Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader

"In an ambitious new study, Morten Hansen illuminates the habits that separate superstars from their peers. This is the definitive guide to working smarter."--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B (with Sheryl Sandberg)

"In this groundbreaking book, Morten Hansen delivers on the genius of "and: " rigorous and relevant, research-driven and well-written, empirical and empowering, timeless and practical, full of big concepts and useful tips. Hansen's work is truly distinctive in the genre of professional effectiveness, and a tremendous contribution. This is a book I will read more than once, and reference forever."--Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, co-author of Built to Last and Great by Choice

"Some managers and employees are star performers. We've always wanted to know why, and now Morten Hansen tells us. It's not because they work longer or harder than everyone else. It's because they adopt a 'growth mindset' and find ways to work smarter. This magnificent study of over 5,000 employees reveals exactly what these stars do and is a landmark contribution to understanding the roots of professional success."--Carol Dweck, author of Mindset

"The typical book about management or careers requires a heavy dose of faith because you don't know where the recommendations come from. Morten Hansen brings beautiful data from a massive research project that reveals how stars at work, in dozens of industries, actually do their work. The data and Hansen's analysis will surprise you, change you, and make you better at work... no leaps of faith required."--Chip Heath, Professor Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Switch

"We thought we were great at work until we read this book. It has led us to re-think how we work and organize our lives. It is that powerful. Now, we are beginning to understand--and sometimes practice--what smart-work actually means."--Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove, founders, Thinkers50 (www.thinkers50.com)